Mouthing..

[Robby]

I recently posted this to another thread, but I'll start it again here due to the urgency. I apologize for the redundancy.

My 11 month old is still acting-up with me.
We've been together for 3 months.
He's a 110 pound SPCA adoption.
The behavior was present since the day I brought him home.

I suspect it was unmanaged "mouthing" that ended-him-up in the slammer in the first place.

He gets growly and tugs on the leash and then grabs for my arms and hands with his mouth. I calmly and assertively say "No!" and "Out!" and "Sit!" and, if need be, grab his collar or scruff to prevent him from grasping my limbs. Half the time, he stops and we go about our business. The other times, the situation accelerates with growls and determined attempts with his mouth until he ends-up (as delicately possible) on his side with one hand on his collar and one hand near his abdomen. When he does get me in his mouth, he's quite gentle - no blood, no torn clothes - but the jostling and growling makes it very uncomfortable.

It seems to happen most when he's worked-up from exercise or when he doesn't want to go home.

I do not tug toys with him. We never wrestle. I eat before him and control his food. He never goes-up on furniture. We get lots of exercise, altho, on weekdays, he's home alone for stretches around a lunchtime walk.

He is very pleasant with people of all ages and he's very good - altho often unaware of his size - with other dogs.

We go to school and I note daily improvement in all areas.
It's just that darned "mouthing"...

How long will it last?
Will it end?
Correction suggestions?

Thanks again and again for this fabulous forum!
-Rob & Blaze

[GeorgiasMom]

My trainer has suggested the use of a pinch collar- CORRECTLY fitted of course - to correct such aggressive behavior..
I have established dominance with everything but the "down" command with my female and the only thing that "broke" her was that collar, just a few times and the fight was over.
It is said that they begin to realize that you mean business when you are firm, confident, and have the right tools. These collars are available with rubber tips to lessen the "pinch", or sleeves that go around the whole collar. Just a tip on the collar though: it shouls fit snuggly around the neck and should never be loose enough to slip it over their head. It's inconvenient (and can sometimes be painful for those of us with tiny fingers) to have to unlatch one of those prongs, but well worth the effort when your "discomfort" is lessened when your dog is no longer "mouthing" you.
If my trainer's advice doesn't work for you, maybe you should consider attending another school with a firmer disciplinary system, but balanced with love.
Good luck!!!! ;)

[Judi W]

He is controlling you with threats and teeth! Not knowing the dog nor having hands-on, I would be disinclined to recommend a correction that might get you injured, however I would recommend that you make it very clear that what he is doing angers you. No blood or torn clothes - how nice of him........:D Not!

Yes, get a pinch and use it properly. Yes, make sure your training techniques and your trainer take into consideration that his very life depends upon him learning to keep his mouth to himself. Dogs that go to the pound because they bite people usually get put to sleep and with good reason. People are not to be chew items for dogs. Why not a pinch and a muzzle and more compulsion in your training? Lots of praise for working nice should go without stint, but objections and threats should be met with boot camp heeling and sits and downs. Too often people are too reticient to let the dog know that they cannot offer threats without repercusions and this is unrealistic in life. Yes, I have rescued and worked dogs with this problem and yes, I did muzzle them until the understood the program. I used lots and lots of heeling to establish leadership. You go where I go, you stop when I stop, etc. and we can have lots of fun. With a dog that is willing to use his teeth to express his objections there is not a thing wrong with using the muzzle so do consider it.

[Wyldhrt]

I have to agree wholeheartedly with the muzzle suggestion until the situation is under control. It seems anymore the standard solution to "problems" is for everyone to suggest getting a pinch collar for the dog. I personally do not use them and don't like them, but that is my opinion and my preference. Pinch collars may give you a quick fix but without training exercises it will not solve the underlying problem, and that is simply that your dog hasn't been taught as of yet that putting his mouth on any person is not acceptable to you. Even muzzling him should be used as a training aid and not a standard.

I don't know how many dogs I've seen with the tell tale line of gray hair running a fine circle around their necks. This gray hair that makes you think age is actually hiding an embedment scar from someone who thought a choke or a pinch would be a quick fix and neither cared to get instruction on the proper use, or decided that it needed to be left on the dog at all times so that they were "under control". So please if you get a pinch collar, go to a trainer that knows how to effectively fit and use it to at least be shown how to do so.

[Robby]

Thank you 1000000 for your input!
I will definitely investigate the muzzle.

We started a fabulous new school last nite! The instructor mesmerized the room - dogs and owners alike! He is a tall, large man with a gentle mannerism and a rock solid understanding of animal and human nature. Both Blaze and I already have a better orientation. He is coming to us for personal training this weekend. From there, I might send the dog home with Scott for one week of in-house training. The benefits of this might be limited as the dog is already very obedient and socialized - the conflict is between me and the pup. And it's firmly rooted.

I've been maintaining regular contact with our vet. He's been a great ally, yet he too is uncertain about the dog's future..

I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again.
-Rob&Blaze